5 cool features of Microsoft’s Surface RT

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What is the Surface RT? It’s more than a tablet, it’s not quite a laptop. It’s the first computer Microsoft has released in the company’s thirty year history. Even after brushing up on Windows RT and the goals of the crop of ARM-based semi-computers, it’s not quite clear what problem they are trying to solve.

What’s undeniable about the Surface RT though, is that Microsoft put out a gorgeous piece of hardware. The Surface was wonderfully crafted and thoughtfully designed so that Microsoft’s partners — HP, Lenovo, Acer — would have a a benchmark that they could try to surpass. By creating something with excellent build quality and some really nice features at a pretty reasonable price, Microsoft’s partners will have no option but to prove their worth.

So what are some of the cooler features that will draw people to the Surface and that Microsoft’s competitor-partners will have to go up against?

1. USB port

Any look at the spec sheet will make this obvious, but the Surface RT has a full-size USB port. If you look at SRT as a Windows tablet then this is no surprise, but if you see it as a tablet-plus then USB is a sweet addition. Using it you can plug in a mouse, use any keyboard you want or, and this will almost certainly come in handy next time you are traveling, charge your phone.

2. A super smart keyboard

One of the reasons that the Surface RT feels so much like a laptop is that it doesn’t feel complete without a keyboard attached. Whenever Microsoft demoed it the tablet had the Touch cover (very firmly) attached and they don’t even make a non-keyboard cover for it. So when you take the Surface RT out and you actually want to use it like a tablet with the cover flipped back, what stops you from typing? The keyboard detects that it’s backwards and won’t accept a button press.

Another clever feature is that the space bar doesn’t end where you think it does. Microsoft’s design team noticed that people tend to hit the space key on the bottom edge, which is fine for a standard key, but doesn’t cut it for a no-movement one, like that used on the Touch cover. Their solution was to extend the useable range of the key below where it normally would be. That means faster typing and less missed spaces.

3. Hidden, but accessible microSD slot

Much like a metal kangaroo pouch, the Surface’s kickstand has a bunch of storage hidden behind it. On the right side of the tablet, behind the kickstand cover, is a microSD slot that can take in up to 64GB of storage. It’s easy to access, but even easier to just put a card in once and forget about it forever — you still have a USB slot so it’s more like permanent expansion than it is removable storage.

With the price of a 64GB microSD card you can get the Surface RT up to 128GB of storage. That’s a lot of music, movies, Office docs, and apps… at least once there are some apps worth downloading in the Windows store.

4. Angled camera

If you do much reading about the Surface RT you’ll notice the term “22 degrees” come up a lot. Microsoft was quite impressed that they figured out that a 22 degree angle would allow the rear-facing webcam to work normally while the tablet was tilted into kickstand mode. Of course Microsoft didn’t angle the forward-facing cam so if you want to do a video conference the cam is pointed uncomfortably at your chest, but at least your companion will have a great view of the room you’re in.

5. Macho magnetic connectors

Microsoft must have identified one of the iPad’s weakness: the magnetic connector that holds on the smart cover (or any cover for that matter) isn’t strong enough. If you grab the iPad by the cover alone you’re liable to be stuck holding the cover a nothing else, but that’s not the case with the Touch and Type covers. These aren’t as easy to attach to the tablet, but they won’t come off unless you really, really want them to. The power connection is magnetic as well, and while it’s annoyingly tricky to get connected, it has quite a strong connection as well.

Bonus! Hidden badge and serial number

After years of Intel, AMD, and Microsoft insisting that PC manufacturers put ugly stickers on the palm rest of their laptops, Microsoft took the Apple route with their first PC. The Surface RT sneaks all the badge, serial number, and FCC, UL, etc. approval information under the kickstand. It’s accessible enough, but doesn’t crap up the exterior with anything that would mar this great looking device.